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"The Anniversary"ByDominic Jenkinson
 
INT. BEDROOM - DAYAn ornate birdcage. A Love-bird hops from one perch toanother and joins its mate. Their green and yellow plumagemerges as they nuzzle and CHIRP.A tabby cat sits below the cage. He watches, licks his lips.Old hands lift him up and away from the cage. ERIC (82)holds the cat to his chest and tickles under his chin.ERICYour breakfast’s downstairs, Monty.Lil first. You know what day it is!Eric’s smile accentuates a lifetime of happy wrinkles. Hestraightens a few tufts of silver hair, straightens hisblack horn rimmed glasses, and tightens a belt around hisdressing gown. He turns to a double bed.Beside the bed, a wooden vanity table, draped with crocheteddoilies and peppered with a sprinkle of knick-knacks.LILY (82) lies under a mound of patchwork quilts. Mouthslightly ajar, hairnet around her grey perm.Eric carries Monty over to her and places a light kiss onher forehead.ERIC(whispers)Happy anniversary, gal. Stay in thewarm, my love.He carries Monty to the window and looks out at the irongrey sky, drizzle falls against the window pane.ERICBugger.INT. STAIRS - DAYEric carries Monty downstairs. Pauses at a framed picture.Black and white. Eric in armed forces uniform, Lil in plainwedding dress, caught off guard, they laugh heartily.ERIC(to Monty)Sixty four years ago today... Andone year later, guess where I was?
 
2.Eric strokes Monty’s head and tickles his chin. Monty purrs.Eric looks to another framed photo. Himself, in the uniformof a Royal Marine Commando, he salutes the picture.ERICThat’s right. El Alamein. Standingover a dead Nazi officer with apistol in my hand. Some firstAnniversary!He passes a blur of pictures, happy times.INT. KITCHEN - DAYEric puts Monty on the floor and rummages through acupboard.ERICThought the bugger was going forhis gun. Couldn’t have been muchfurther from the truth! Still,would have cooked my goose if hehad the chance.He takes a tin of "Goose Treat" and pops the lid. He emptiesit into a bowl as Monty paces impatiently.ERICSome first anniversary. Dunno whatsixty four is. Diamond plus four?Ha! Here you go.He places the bowl on the floor and smiles. Monty tucks in.INT. BEDROOM - DAYEric walks to the birdcage and smiles at the Love-birds.They twitter slightly as he opens their cage. He holds afinger to his lips.ERIC(whispers)Shhh! Princess is asleep.He pours some seed into their feeder and closes the cage.Lil lies silent. He walks over and delivers a gentle kiss toher cheek. He looks at her, a melancholic smile on his face.He walks over to the window and stares at the grey mist.
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